Introduction to MS4 Stormwater Requirements

(2009)

Annual Meeting• Introduction• Background/History• Brief update of local stormwater activities

– City of Duluth– St. Louis County– City of Hermantown– MNDOT– Lake Superior College

• Comments from public

Clean Water Act

•Water Quality legislation since 1948 •Major Clean Water Act of 1972

•Point source discharges•Industrial•Municipal•Feedlots

•Strengthened again in 1977 •Began targeting Non-point pollution in 1987

Required Permits - National Pollution Discharge Elimination System “NPDES”

Clean Water Act•Early 1990’s Phase 1 NPDES

•Large Urban Areas

•2003 Phase 2 MS4•Small and Medium cities•Institutions•Universities

• Required stormwater runoff to be permitted

Polluted Runoff is the #1

Water Quality Problem in the

U.S.*

Polluted Runoff is the #1

Water Quality Problem in the

U.S.*

* USEPA

Less Obvious – Less Obvious – Nonpoint Source Nonpoint Source

PollutionPollution

Less Obvious – Less Obvious – Nonpoint Source Nonpoint Source

PollutionPollution

Why permit stormwater?

The permit addresses 6 minimum measures specified by the Federal Government and expanded and defined by the state. They are:

• PUBLIC EDUCATION

• PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

• ILLICIT DISCHARGES

• CONSTRUCTION SITE CONTROLS

• POST CONSTRUCTION CONTROLS

• GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MEASURES

Public Education and Outreach

• Distribute educational materials to community about impact of stormwater discharges and steps to reduce pollution.

• Develop an education program for six minimum control measures.

Public participation and Involvement

• Get public input and opinion on SWPPP

– Allow a reasonable opportunity to speak

– Set up procedures to consider spoken and written input

• Encourage public to take an interest in maintaining water quality

• Consider comments

Illicit discharge detection & elimination• Develop a storm sewer

map including ponds, lakes, streams in system, structural devices, pipes and conveyances

• Prohibit non stormwater discharges

• Develop a program to detect illegal discharges

• Inform all groups about the hazards of illegal discharges

Construction site stormwater runoff control

• Develop a program to runoff from construction

– Erosion and sediment control ordinance

– BMP’s for construction site operators

– Construction site waste control (truck wash out, chemicals, litter, etc)

– Site plan review procedures looking at water quality impacts.

Post construction stormwater management in new development and

redevelopment

• Ensure long term operation and maintenance of BMPs (can’t dig ‘em and leave ‘em)

• Strategies including structural and non-structural BMPS

Pollution prevention and good housekeeping

• Implement a program of BMPS within the operation including appropriate training:– Operate and maintain system– Annually inspect all structural

pollution controls– Inspect 20% of outfalls yearly– Respond to inspection results– Summarize results in annual

report with dates of inspections and dates of actions

– Keep records and adjust program accordingly

Areas covered by Best Management Practices•Vehicle maintenance & cleaning

•vehicle inspection

•hazardous materials management

•hazardous materials training

•construction site erosion control

•control of dumping to creeks and streams

•Vehicle washing

•hazardous spill response

•storm sewer cleaning

•deicing material storage

•stream cleaning

•removal of icing problems

•sediment disposal

•outfall inspection

•inspection of control devices

•use of fertilizers

•training in fertilizer & pesticides

•landscape maintenance

•pet waste control

•street cleaning

•patching

•illicit discharge detection

•dumping

Cool it off

As individuals there are three general things we should try to do:

•Slow water down

Keep it clean